Blackrock Ceramic Knives.....a sharp buy

So there I was Twittering away when Black Rock Knives tweeted about the benefits of ceramic knives over your trusty stainless steel blade.  Now being a Jack Russell I was sceptical as ever and being the proud possessor of a set of Michael Chiarello's NapaStyle Santoku knives that I could shave my coat off with I challenged their assertion.


Well low and behold two days later the postman brought a Black Rock Knife to my kennel.....what's the chances!  Now it's Jack Russell by breed inquisitive by nature so I went and grabbed the nearest yellow pepper and started slicing.....and low and behold they're probably the sharpest knife in the box!  If you're looking to julienne paper thin then one of these bad boy's is for you.


BlackRock® ceramic knives are a market leader in high quality ceramic knives, with their origins in the Far East it's amazing that these knives have been kept a secret in Europe for so long. Once the reserve of professional chefs and now available to all.
The blade is produced using the finest quality pure zirconium oxide ( also known as Zirconia), a material that is extremely hard, wear resistant and chemically inert. It is important to highlight that our pure compound comes from Japan which is considered the best available and is produced by one of the oldest manufacturers of this product in the world. 

Zirconium oxide has a hardness second only to diamond.This produces a product with an ultra-sharp blade.BlackRock blades are hand sharpened at the factory, unlike many mass produced models which are done by machine.This gives our knives a superior blade edge.

All BlackRock® ceramic knives come with a protective sheath to ensure the blade maintains it's optimum performance. The ceramic blade is stain & microbe resistant and cannot rust. It leaves no metallic taste or smell on foods and you'll also notice that fruit and vegetables stay fresher for longer when cut and do not turn brown as quickly. The BlackRock® range of ceramic knives goes from a small 3" blade through to a 7" blade at 1" intervals and we also offer a ceramic peeler.

You can't put them in the dishwasher but as they're so easy to clean that's not a problem, and for me the only disadvantage is you can't use them on their side for crushing garlic as you might crack the blade. However that's a minor moan as they're so sharp they will cleanly slice very thinly and wont need sharpened for years.  It does also reduce browning when cutting lettuce and I did notice a marked reduction in tears when I used it to slice an onion!

Pricewise they're very competitive with knives of a lesser standard of cutting ability which makes them an absolute bargain and whilst I'm not sure they'd be robust enough for a commercial kitchen, they are ideal for domestic use.  Best value for money is the three piece 5", 6" and 7" set at £59.99.  Don't just take my word for it.....

Julie Brice-

" I have been most impressed by my ceramic knife; it glides through vegetables much better than my old steel knife. (I used to use a steak knife for tomatoes!) And best of all it doesnt need sharpening. Now Ive just got to convince my husband to buy me the set!"

Tracey Howell 

"Absolutley loving my blackrock knives!! when i mentioned them to a friend she asked if it passed the tomato test? she explained how she hates knives that squish rather than cut,so i tried myself.And they certainly pass with flying colours!!Youve gotta try them!!Brilliant!"

Margaret Mary Devaney

"Amazingingly sharp!!! LUCKY TO HAVE TEN FINGER TIPS INTACT! Cooking made easy! x"

Stuart Thompson

"I bought the 4" knife to try out these knives and to see if they lived up to the claims , I have since purchased the 3 set and so have 2 of my friends as they loved mine so much". keep your fingers out the way though as they take no prisoners "

Fergus Martin - Executive Chef  was given a 7" Knife to trial for us and these are his thoughts:

"Very Sharp and good for all general veg prep apart from Aubergines as they tended to stick to the blade. Very good for lettuce as the ceramic blade reduced oxidization"

"Good for cutting small peice of meat but not as good on large pieces, very good for fish once it had been filleted"

"Cheese and dairy was very very good"

"Texture and comfort of handle was very good for long tasks"

" These knives could certainly be used in large professional enviroments although they could get abused and damaged. 
They are perfect for the domestic market and my wife loved it and now uses it all the time "

Karen Bright 

"These knives are amazing I use mine almost every day "